-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega opened the door to the possibility of his country going back to international bodies in an attempt to get a $ 17 billion payout from the United States .

But the United States considers the case closed , according to William Ostick , a State Department spokesman .

The money was originally awarded to Nicaragua in 1986 by the International Court of Justice in the Hague . Nicaragua had gone to the court alleging that American involvement in their civil war by arming , financing and supplying the Contra fighters was a breach of international law . The Central American country also alleged that U.S. overflights and attacks on Nicaraguan ports violated its sovereignty .

The court sided with Nicaragua , and ruled that the United States was to pay reparations . Nicaragua asked for $ 17 billion , though an amount was never set .

The United States , which did not recognize the jurisdiction of the court in this case , resisted international pressure to pay , and eventually , under the administration of President Violeta Chamorro , Nicaragua dropped its claim from the International Court in 1991 . The International Court subsequently issued an order removing Nicaragua 's case from the court 's list , Ostick said .

`` In due time we will call for a referendum , '' Ortega said Tuesday , referring to the revival of the claim .

Ortega was speaking at an event commemorating the fall of former dictator Anastasio Somoza , which brought the Sandinistas to power . The aim of the Contras was to destabilize the Sandinistas , the party Ortega belongs to .

The president said he would call for `` a referendum so that the people ... say whether or not we collect this debt that the ` Yankee ' government owes . ''

`` Nicaragua has a legitimate position to be entertained and debated , '' said Larry Birns , director of the Council on Hemispheric Affairs .

However , it is unlikely that Ortega would seek such a referendum , which would stir the pot with the United States , he said .

In some ways , Ortega has proven to be more pragmatic in his actions than his rhetoric suggests , Birns said .

If Nicaragua chooses to revive the lawsuit , it could be because the impoverished nation sees the $ 17 billion -- or even a settlement at a fraction of that amount -- as a quick boost to the country , he said .

The case is most likely closed forever , said Fred Morrison , a law professor at the University of Minnesota who was on the U.S. legal team in the first phases of the case .

When Nicaragua dropped its claim , it did so by stating in a letter that it `` had decided to renounce all further right of action based on the case and did not wish to go on with the proceedings . ''

There is a precedent that such declarations are binding , Morrison said .

`` I would think the case is now closed , '' he said .

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Ortega says he may hold a referendum to see if case should be revived

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The International Court of Justice ruled in 1986 against the United States

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At issue is U.S. involvement in Nicaragua 's civil war